Portable dual easel

ABSTRACT

A one-piece dual easel molded from plastic material shaped in the form of an elongated inverted &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;V&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and having a panel on opposite sides to retain a sheet of material for receiving drawings or paintings from two oppositely positioned users. An integral compartment extending from the base of each panel is provided for holding a plurality of paint containers and a handle means provided at the top junction of the panels for transport purposes. Each of the easels is tapered for nesting a plurality one above the other in a vertical stack.

United States Patent References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1916 Richards 6/1965 Finnemann... 9/1969 Silver FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1937 Germany..;

Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney- Lloyd J Andres ABSTRACT: A one-piece dual easel molded from plastic material shaped in the form of an elongated inverted V and Inventor Dorothea L. Dubler [56] Coral Gables, Fla. Appl. No. 22,533 Filed Mar. 25, 1970 8328: Patented Aug. 17,1971 3467259 Assignee Josephine A. L. Sonde Coral Gables, Fla. 3 m [ma- 65 1,13 1

PORTABLE DUAL EASEL 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Fig. M

US. Cl 248/452 Int. Cl ..A47b97/04, B431 5/02 Field of Search 248/441,

having a panel on opposite sides to retain a sheet of material for receiving drawings or paintings from two oppositely positioned users. An integral compartment extending from the base of each panel is provided for holding a plurality of paint containers and a handle means provided at the top junction of the panels for transport purposes. Each of the easels is tapered for nesting a plurality one above the other in a vertical stack.

PATENTEDAUBIYIHYI 3,599,925

' SHEEIIUFZ INVENTOR. DOROTHEA L. DUBLER PATENTED we] 1 I97! 3; 599.925

SHEEI 2 OF 2 v V, 1a F1910 INVENTOR.

DOROTHEA L. DUBLER PORTABLE DUAL EASEL This invention relates in general to teaching accessories for children and more particularly to a dual easel for retaining sheet material onboth sides for simultaneous drawing or painting instruction and practice for two children.

Prior easels are generally one sided and consume considerable space when stored and are not adapted to nesting or lowcost one-piece construction.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of a one-piece lightweight molded-plastic dual easel for retaining a worksheet on each opposite side permitting simultaneous drawing or painting by two persons positioned at opposite sides thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compartment on each side of each easel for retaining a plurality of paint containers for minimizing spillage and for holding other articles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a thin wall tapered construction which will permit close vertical nesting of a plurality of the easels forming a vertical stack for the conservation of space.

These and other objects and advantages in two embodiments of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a right-hand perspective view of the easel in reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through section line 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional end view taken through section line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view of four easels shown in FIG. 1, in vertical nested relation.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through section line 5-5, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the easel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken through section line 7-7, FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through section line 8-8, FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 shows a dual easel having an alternate handle means to that shown in FIG. 1 and including four legs.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken through section line 10-10, FIG. 9, illustrating means for securing legs to the ease] shown in FIGS. 1 and 9.

Referring to FIG. 1, the dual easel assembly 1 is molded from high impact resistant plastic material, such as one of the well-known polystyrene or vinyl compounds, by either the injection-molding process or the vacuum process of heat-forming sheet plastic material.

A pair of like opposite panels 2 and 3 of uniform thickness and having planar outer surfaces are positioned as an elongated inverted V having an included angle in the order of 30. The surface of each panel is planar for retaining wordsheets p, such as paper, paperboard, fabric or metal.

An elongated substantially rectangular open upper compartment 4 is positioned between the upper margins of panels 2 and 3 and integral therewith, as shown. The compartment has a planar bottom 5, better shown in FIG. 2.

A flexible handle 6, of well-known type, is centrally secured to the bottom of compartment 4 by a pair of shoulder rivets 7, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end of each panel 2 and 3 is integrally connected to a lower open compartment 8 having a bottom and an outer wall 9. The connection of each panel 2 and 3 to its corresponding compartment 8 is made by an outward portion forming the rear wall of each compartment, which also forms an upturned ridge 10 resulting in a linear groove 11, in which the lower edge of each work sheet on each panel may rest. The ridge 10 is integral with the upper portion of each inner wall 12 of each compartment 8 which includes a bottom 13 integral with wall 9.

Each end of the panels 2 and 3 and the compartments 8 are rigidized by an integral inward extending flange 14 of uniform thickness which stiffens the panels 2 and 3 and also closes the ends of the upper compartment 4 and the lower compartments 8-8, as shown in FIG. 5.

In order to provide high friction between the bottom surfaces of compartment 8 and the surface on which the ease] rests a pad 15, of elastomer material or fabric, is secured by suitable adhesive cement c to the bottom surface of each bottom 13.

Referring to FIG. 1, it is to be noted that the flanges 14 at the opposite ends of the easel are planar and converge upwardly at a predetermined small angle for the purpose of nesting pluralities of easels in a vertical stack, as illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein four nested easels are illustrated.

FIG. 8 illustrates the nested engagement of the compartment 8 of the second easel partly within the lowermost compartment 8 of the first easel.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate easel 1a in which the upper ends of the panels 2a and 3a form an integral junction with each other without the compartment 4, shown in FIG. 1. A pair of opposite apertures 16 positioned through the panels 2a and 3a form a convenient bridge as a handle for carrying the easel.

In operation, it is apparent that well-known spring clamps 20 may be used to hold certain worksheets p to the panels. The use of pressure sensitive adhesive tape a also provides a convenient holding means for the worksheet, as shown in FIG. 4.

Each of four conventional legs 17 are retained by a dualthreaded screw 18 threaded into a corresponding boss 19 integral with opposite end portions of the bottom of each compartment 8 or 8a. It is also to be noted that a threaded metal plate, not shown, may be secured to the bottom 13 of compartments 8 and 8a by well-known means as an alternate means for retaining each of the legs.

Certain modifications in the above construction are intended to come within the teachings and scope of the above specification.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A dual easel molded from plastic material having an elongated uniform inverted V-shape of uniform cross section with a like planar panel on each opposite side with parallel top and bottom edges and like upward divergent opposite ends of a predetermined angle for retaining a worksheet on the outer surface of each said panel,

a substantially rectangular upper open compartment of uniform width and cross section having a bottom and open top integrally positioned between and along the upper marginal portions of said panels,

a substantially rectangular lower open compartment of substantially uniform width and cross section having a bottom and open top integral with and positioned outward and along the lower edge of each said panel,

a ridge along the inner side of each said lower compartment in uniform spaced relation to the said lower surface of each said panel forming a groove along the lower edge thereof for supporting a worksheet against each said panel,

a reinforcement flange of uniform thickness integral with each opposite end of each said panel extending inward thereof and also forming an integral closure on each opposite end of each said lower compartment.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a collapsible handle means secured to the upper side of the central portion of said bottom of said upper compartment for carrying said easel.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 including a nonskid resilient material of uniform thickness secured by adhesive means to the outer surface of each of said bottom of said lower compartments for providing resistance to movement when said easel is on a smooth surface.

4. The construction recited in claim 1 including a manual clamp means for holding said worksheet to the upper margin of each said panel. 

1. A dual easel molded from plastic material having an elongated uniform inverted V-shape of uniform cross section with a like planar panel on each opposite side with parallel top and bottom edges and like upward divergent opposite ends of a predetermined angle for retaining a worksheet on the outer surface of each said panel, a substantially rectangular upper open compartment of uniform width and cross section having a bottom and open top integrally positioned between and along the upper marginal portions of said panels, a substantially rectangular lower open compartment of substantially uniform width and cross section having a bottom and open top integral with and positioned outward and along the lower edge of each said panel, a ridge along the inner side of each said lower compartment in uniform spaced relation to the said lower surface of each said panel forming a groove along the lower edge thereof for supporting a worksheet agAinst each said panel, a reinforcement flange of uniform thickness integral with each opposite end of each said panel extending inward thereof and also forming an integral closure on each opposite end of each said lower compartment.
 2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a collapsible handle means secured to the upper side of the central portion of said bottom of said upper compartment for carrying said easel.
 3. The construction recited in claim 1 including a nonskid resilient material of uniform thickness secured by adhesive means to the outer surface of each of said bottom of said lower compartments for providing resistance to movement when said easel is on a smooth surface.
 4. The construction recited in claim 1 including a manual clamp means for holding said worksheet to the upper margin of each said panel. 